Interest In Kinkade's Artwork Spikes After Painter's Death

PLACERVILLE (CBS13) - Thomas Kinkade's death has triggered a rush of people looking to buy his art work, including at the Placerville art gallery where Kinkade got his start.

It's these kinds of original paintings that loyal fans are desperate to get their hands on. And for some people buying just one is not enough.

Roni Dickerson has been collecting Kinkade paintings for more than 25 years and says after hearing about his death, it only felt right to pursue more.

"I have eight paintings now. I'm looking to add to my collection," Roni Dickerson said Monday. "There have been pictures that I've been waiting to buy for several years now. Let's see what they have to offer before they sell out."

But Dickerson isn't the only one after Kinkade's paintings. There are six phone lines at the gallery and all of them have been ringing non-stop.

"It has just been incredible," gallery owner Nathan Ross said. "Our website was crashing non-stop. I ended up having to update our server to get a secure server line."

Sold paintings leaning against walls at the gallery were a good indication that business isn't slowing down anytime soon.

"I really appreciated his work," John Biermans said. "It was something that really appealed to me."

And with the high demand for Kinkade's paintings, Ross says the gallery has profited quite a bit so far.

"We have been charging extra $200 for signatures and $500 for sketches, simply because we can't get them anymore," he said.
Ross says the most expensive painting they've sold so far is one with a price tag of $150,000.